Hey Brits and Scots

I am visiting Scotland next week and I went to an exchange shop just an hour ago to make some currency.

The cashier asked me whether I'd like British or Scottish pounds and I was taken aback really, because I had never heard of the difference. According to him they cost the same and are worth the same, but they are not identical.

In the end I bought GBP, purple 20 pound paper money, with Queen Elizabeth and Adam Smith on each side. But what he said troubled me.

I can't really imagine a Scot buying currency to visit London or Manchester or a Brit buying currency to visit Glascow, but it does not hurt to ask in order to be prepared: Will I have any problem at all, shops or taxi drivers not accepting the particular paper money? Should I go back and change them for Scottish Pounds?

In theory they're identical. Although in practice you may run into problems trying to use Scottish money in England, simply because people are not familiar with Scottish coins/banknotes.

EDIT: Bank of England money in Scotland is usually no problem however.

All the time I live in the UK (S.E. England), I don't think I ever saw any Scottish money and a family friend, who was Scottish, never mentioned any monetary exchange difficulties. So either Scottish notes are relative new, or there really isn't any issue with using Sterling throughout the UK.

One thing I would avoid though is 50 pound notes as most shops don't like dealing with them.

Just make sure you spend all the Scottish banknotes, if you ever get any, in Scotland, as the English may not want to accept them. The other way around is always fine.

(Think Braveheart)
Tell the English they will take your Scottish money, or else you will sack York. ;-D

Oh and, have fun on your trip! :)

When I worked in retail I was told they were both legal tender, so you should have no worries anywhere in the UK. Kick up a fuss if anyone tries to refuse it. If that doesn't work, get them swapped out a bank.

Scottish banks print their own bank notes, which occasionally causes problems with retailers in England, but as DrWevil says above you can exchange them for English notes in any high street bank. Northern Irish bank notes are also legal tender.

IIRC, £1 notes circulate only in Scotland. Other denominations of Scottish banknotes are accepted in England, where the £1 coin is standard. Small shopkeepers may need reminding that they are good. Bank of England money is accepted everywhere.

Scottish banks have issued banknotes in sterling since the 18th C., due to shortages of coin in Scotland. There was a dispute in 1826, when the £1 note was temporarily banned; outrage from Scotland resulted in Scotland being allowed to continue to use the £1 note.

There used to be a "pound Scots", but its use died out after the Treaty of Union (1707).

http://www.rbs.com/about-rbs/g2/heritage/rbs-history-100/themes/serving-our-customers/one-pound-note.ashx

The £1 notes are also legal tender in England; retailers will probably kick up a fuss, so the best bet is to exchange them at a bank.

OR Sack York.
(They have plenty of money there) :p

In truth, it sounds to me like Scotland has no problem taking England's monies, so just get Englands, and I'm sure you'll be fine. Don't worry, and have a blast, I always dreamed of going there myself...and I'm sure it will be really fun for you. :D
(Bring extra toothpaste)
8-p
Joking!

Contrary to the above, Scottish notes are not legal tender in the UK, so nowhere is legally obliged to accept them. Most places probably would though, you just have to avoid young cashiers who probably don't have a clue what they are.

Source - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7203378.stm

There isnt really a difference as has been said, its just the english arent familiar with Scottish notes. Ironically i used bank notes from Gibralta in england with less trouble. If your going to england just get english notes. If you decide to visit scotland it still isnt an issue. If your mainly in Scotland then its up to you but if you only have Scottish notes and visit england id suggest you stop off at a bank machine when you get over the border into england

Alright guys, thanks a lot for your help and info. Thankfully I bought GBP, so I shoudln't have a problem at all. :-)

As a resident of bonneh Scotland what everyone is saying pretty much right. You can use either English or Scottish up here, further south you go after hitting the border the less they are accepted. I lived in Carlisle for a while which is not far past the border and some shops would have signs up saying Scottish bank notes not accepted, so just be prepared basically if you take a trip into England also.

if you get any £1 notes keep them as they are very rare yet only worth £1